Marine reversing gear



o. H. BANKER mms nnmsnm GEAR April s, 1947.

-nle uw. 11.. i943 s shestafsneet "1 4|, N s W .QS C @S wsg n: f QN N'. mwwww. N9 @J 1 www RRQ VN mm .A Sm, l l Nm, h1 @N w RNKWWA. Q W s m1 April 8, 1947 o. H. BANKER MARINE REVERSING GEAR Y 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. l1, 1943 s'ca/"mzer April 8, 194,7. o. H. BANKER KARINE REVERSINQ GEAR Filed Nov. 11. 19`4s 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 @Yin April 8, 1947. o, H, BANKER` 2,418,455

MARINE nEvERsING GEAR Filed Nov. 11, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 8, 19.47. o, H BANKER 2,418,455

MARINE REvERsING GEAR Filed NOV. 11, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 8, 194.7. o. H. BANKER MARINE n EvERsING GEAR 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 11, 1945 Patented Apr. 8, 1947 MARINE REVERSING'GEAR Oscar H. Banker, Evanstomlll., assgnor to New` Products Corporation, Chicago, Illy.,` a corporation of Delaware Application` November 11, 1943, Serial No. 509,926

The present invention relates to power trans-l mitting means `especially for marine propulsion and includes means for easily reversing the direction of propulsion. l

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel transmission means which includes planetaryftype of transmission gears cooperative with brake means whereby the shifting from neutral to forward or reverse drive or from forward to reverse or from reverse to forward drives may be quickly, easily and eciently effected.

7 Claims. (Cl. Tik-296) In the embodiments chosen. to illustrate the i invention the driving and driven shafts are shown in alignment and are operatively connected by way of a cluster of planetary gears. One of the shafts has a gear for driving a driven gear or gears of the cluster. A second gear or gears of the cluster is operatively connected by'way of a gear on the driven shaft whereby forward driving may be effected. A third gear or gears of the cluster is operatively associated with anovel type of brake means carried by the device so as to hold the cluster from aggregate rotation about the axes of the driving and driven shafts to effect the forward driving above described. For reverse rotation another novel type of brake means so operates as to hold from rotation a gear with which meshes the planetary third gear or gears of the cluster whereby, as said third gear or gears planetates about the held gear, to effect a driving in reverse direction of the second gear or gears of the cluster in mesh Iwith the driven gear of the driven shaft. This is possible by reason of a differential of diameters of the second and third gears of the cluster.

Another object is the provision of a novel hydraulic contro-l system bymeans of Which forward and reverse driving connections are selectively establishable quickly and with minimum effort.

Another object is the-provision in a reversing transmission of a hydraulic control for selecting forward and reverse drive and for applying a brake to prevent rotation of driven parts of the transmission only while the control is set in neutral to demobilize both the forward and reverse driving connections.

Still another object is the provision of a planetary type of reversing gear unit employing front and back sun gears, a middle driving sun gear and front and `back drive and driven shaftsall coaxially disposed and employing a journalled support for the driving sun gear independently of the drive shaft to widen the tolerance limits in the coaxial relation of such coaxial parts.

A further object is the provision of an improved 2 planetary gear transmission unit Ahaving coaxial front and back sun gears arranged coaxially with a middle sun gear. having opposite end hub portions journalled respectively Within said front and back sun gears and a shaft extending from a driving connection withlthe'hub of the middle gear outwardly through the hub of one of the other-gears. i

Other object-s, advantages, capabilities and features are comprehended by the invention as. will later appear `and aszare inherently` possessed by the invention.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. .1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a physical embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary view in elevation of brake means for decelerating the drive when revel-sing it or coming to astop andy neutral condition;

Fig. 2 is a part end view and part transverse sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 2 2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig. 3 is a part end view and part transverse view taken in a plane represented by line 3-3 in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken inv planes represented by line 4-4 in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View on an enlarged scale taken in planes represented by lines 5-5 in Fig. lV of the drawings;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale taken in a plane represented by line 6-6 in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

Fig. '7, is a fragmentary sectional view lon an enlarged scale taken in a plane represented by line 1-1 in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View on an` enlargedscale taken in planes represented vby lines 8-8 in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal `sectional View takenA through an alternative embodiment of the invention; and f Fig. lois a sectional view taken similarly toA Figs. l and 9 through a modied planetary gear unit. i

Referring more in detail tothe drawings, the

embodiment shown` in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive cornprises a housing barrel I closed at an end there-- of `by an end plate 2 suitably secured to the barrel l by securing elements `3, lsuch as screws or 1 suitably secured to the barrel I by securing elements 8, such` as screws or the likeI and having shaft I4 is keyed the hub I1 of a coupling means i I8 held in keyed securement by way of a nut I9 xed to a threaded end portion 20 of the shaft I4. A suitable thrust, plate 2I is preferably interposed between the nut I9 and the base 22 of the coupling means I8, as shown in Fig. 1. Be-

tween the hub I1 of the coupling means I8 and' the bearing means I3 is also interposed a thrust plate 23. v

At the other end of the structure (see Fig. 1)` the plate 5 has an inturned thrust flange24. against which abuts a bearing means 25, which may be of the ball bearing type, for rotatably supporting a shaft portion 26, the bearing means also abutting a flange 21 rigid with the hub 4 The end portion of the shaft 26 extends through a central opening 28 in the plate 5 and is keyed to the hub portion 29 of the coupling 30, the latter being secured in place by way of a nut 3I screwed onto. a threaded end portion 32 of the shaft 26. A thrust plate 33isinterposed between the nut 3l and the base of the coupling 30, as shown in Fig. 1.

Integral with the barrel I is an inner wall 34 having a central bearing hub 35 in which is rotatably supported a bearing hub 36 of an end plate 31 of a gear cluster unit. The plate 31 has portions 38 (see Fig. 1) adapted for securement by way of suitable securing elements 39, such as screws, to complementary portions 40 of an opposite end plate 4| of the gear cluster unit mentioned above. The plate 4I has a bearing hub 42 rotatable in a bearing extension 43 formed integral with the end platel` and the hub portions 9 and I0.

The end plates 31 and 4I for the gear clusters vare provided with opposed holes through and in which extend and are secured shafts 44 each Vrotatably carrying, as by Way of roller bearings RB, planetary gears 45, 46 and 41 suitably secured together as a unit or cluster. Fig. 4 shows four sets of these gears and shafts but any number of sets may be used as desired and as the size of the device will permit.

. The drive shaft 26 is integral with a shaft portion 48 having at its inner end a bearing portion 49 rotatable in a suitable bearing '50, such as a ball bearing, tted into a recess 5I in the inner end of the shaft I4. The shaft bearing portion 49 is thus piloted in an inner end portion of the shaft I4.

On the shaft 48, as near the bearing part 49 thereof, is suitably fixed a sun gear 53 which is normally in mesh with the gears 46 and which drives the planet gears 46, and 41. The shaft I4 rotates in the hub 42 and also in a bearing 54, such as a ball bearing, in a hub portion 55 forming a part of the hub 9. A sleeve 56 forms a rigid spacer for the ball bearing units I3 and 54. A Rotatable on lthe driving shaft portion 48 is a hollow shaft 51 carrying at its inner end a gear or pinion 58 in mesh with the gears 45, and having an outer end portion 59 splined to a hub 66 of a brake plate or web 6I cooperative with a disk ring type of brake means 62 carried by and held on the barrel I, as generally shown in Fig. 1. 'I'he plate 6I has a rim 63 splined to multiple friction disklike rings 64 cooperative with multiple disk-like rings 65 of the brake means 62. The splined relation of the shaft portion 59 and the plate hub 69 is suitably maintained, as by a nut and lock washer means 66.

The brake 62 is operated by six radially directed levers 61 spaced circumferentially about the left end thereof, Fig.' l, and of which but one is show n in Fig. 1. Each lever 61 has a pivot element 68 carried by a slidable but non-rotative pressure plate 69 of the means 62. Each lever 61 has a toe' 10 reacting against a respective toe piece 1I in the form of a headed member having a threaded shank turned into a threaded hole HO in the plate 2. and an arm 12 contacting an end of a respective piston rod 13 secured to afrespective piston 14 and passing through an end wall or ders in Fig. 2, and by examining Fig. 2 with Fig. 1 the circumferential spacing of the levers 61 associated therewith is ascertainable. Fluid is supplied to and exhausted from the cylinders 16 by a common duct, 93, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The means 6I-62 described above is designed to control the operation of the gear 53 either to allow it to rotate with the gear clusters 45-46-41 or to be braked so as to cause the gears 45, 46 and 41 to planetate about the gear 58.

At the driven end of the device, the planet carrier end plate l4I has spaced segments 11 (see Figs. 1 and 4) suitably splined to disk-like rings 18 cooperative with suitable disk-like rings 19 of a clutch or brake device 89. As in the case of the brake 62, this brake is provided with a pressure plate 48| having circumferentially spaced pivots 92 for respectively associated levers 63 of which there are four of which but one is shown, in Fig. l. Each lever has a toe 84 bearing on a. respective toe piece 85 carried by the plate 1, and an arm 86 contactingan end of a respective piston rod 81 reciprocable through a cylinder end or head 88 of a respective cylinder 89 formed in the ing section WR and a iocknut NU simuany to the toe pieces 1I at the other end of the transmission. Opposite each piston 90 is a chamber 9| adapted tocontain oil or other fluid under pressure, and fed from a pump, later described, by way of a duct 92, Figs. 1 and 3, which communicates with each of such chambers. In Fig. 3 the circumferential spacing of the cylinders 69 is illustrated .by showing them in dotted outline, and this view together with Fig. 1 therefore illustrate the circumferential spacing of the associated levers 83. At the drive end of the device, as stated above, oil under pressure is fed to the pistons 14 by way of an oil vduct 93. Betweenthe coupling hub 29 and the end plate hub 24 is a holding ring 80a so that when a screw plug SP is removed from said hole the effect of adjusting toe piece 85 can be ascertained. This adjustment is normally made while the brake 80 is released at which time the toe piece 85 will be rotated to adjust the pressure plate 8| unti1 the brake plates 1B and 19 virtually touch without pressure being'applied therebetween, `A hole (not shown) similar to IH is provided in the casing I and the `brake plate holding ring 62a for the brake 62.

By making these brake rings 62a and 80a separate from the casing I and attaching them thereto by the screws SC, the machining of the splines SPL is expedited, and also these rings can be made of a stronger, more preferred and costlier material than the casing proper. i

On the inner end portion of the shaft I4 is provided a gear or pinion 96 normally in mesh with the gears 41. The planet gears 46 are of greatest diameter with reference to the gears 45 and 41, the gears 41 being of smallest diameter, and the gears 45 being of intermediate diameter, as shown in particular in Fig. 1.

The oil or other hydraulic fluid is controllably supplied to the cylinders 16 and 89 forreifecting the desired dilferent drives by way of a pum-p 91` and controlling valve device 98, The oil is drawn from'a sump 99 (see Fig. 1) by way of a. filter and inlet duct or passage |0| to the Dump 91.

The pump 91 is operated by way of a gear |02 suitably keyed to the shaft portion 26 and meshed with a driven gear |03 suitably keyed to a pump shaft |04 having suitable bearings |05 and |05 respectively, as ball bearings, in the pump body |01 and end plate 5 (see Fig. 1).

Referring to Fig. 5, the pump 91 is shown as of the gear-rotary type comprising an inner or piston rotor |08 on .the shaft |04. and operative with an outer or cylinder rotor |09 eccentric thereto. The rotor |09 has radial portsA I I0 communicating with an inlet chamber I I I connected ,to theduct or passage |0I, and a dischargechamber II2 leading by way of'va passage ,|I3 to a pressure regulating rchest |I4 in which is located a dash pot piston l active against a spring I I6. From chamber ||4 a passage. I|1 leads downwardly to a portentry IIB communicating. with ports II9, |20 and |2I of which ports |20.and |2I are for communication with ducts 92 and l93 for causing respective forward and reverse operation of the drive means.. The duct 92 leads to the cylinders 89 and pistons 90 which operate the forward driving brake 80 and the duct 93 leads to the cylinders containing the pistons 'I4 which operate the reverse driving brake 62.

The control valve 98 comprises a valve cylinder |22 in which axially slides a control valve plunger |23 having an extension |24 suitably formed for manual selection of position to effect the desired operations of the driven means. YThe valve plunger |23 carries cylindrical valve components |25, |26 and |21 of which valves |25 and |25 control the supply of oilfor forward operation of the device and valves |25 and |21 control the supply of oil for reverse operation of the device.

brake device B, Fig. la, for holding the driven shaft I4 against rotation. In this case the oil passes through a transverse passage |28 provided in'the valve part |25, to a lower passage |29 in communication with a conduit I29a secured-at the lower end of the passage |29 by a coupling member |291) threaded thereinto. This conduit I29a leads to a fluidmotor M of the brake device B, and as shown in Fig. 1a the brake de- 5 vice include's a brake drum D secured, to the driven shaft flange I8 by bolts BL. A brake band BB having one end anchored to a boss BO, which may be formed integrally with a part of the housing I, circumscribes the drum D; The freel l0 end of said brake band is coupled to a second boss B02 by a pivoted link L. A pin P mutually serves to plvotally connect the vfree end .of the band BB, an end of the link L and an endof a piston rod PR which projects from a pistonfPI in the motor cylinder MC.` The lower end of the cylinder MC is plvotally attached to 4a suitable fixed anchorage AN. When fluid under pressure is introduced into the lower end of the cylinder MC the piston PI and its rod- PR will beV forced upwardly as ,viewed in Fig; la to cause tighten--` ing of the brake band and "consequent stopping of the driven shaft I`4. Since this action occurs under control ofthe valve control member |23, Figs. 2 and i5, when said member is inthe neutral position, the brake mechanism B expedites reversal of the driven shaft by decelerating the same during the execution o'f 'a shift of thevalve controlmemberV from the `forward to *the -reve`rse position and vice versa.: While the" valve` control 30 member |23 is in Athe neutral position, Fig. 2,'the enlargement o'n its left end will be in registry with the left end of an exhaustpassag'e |31 to close the same and thus prevent escape Iofthe-oil-"from the lower end of the vertical passage"'|29`(sce` Figs. 5 and 7), but upon movement of'the control valve |23 to either of thev forwarder reverse positions communication will'be 'established `-be#4 tween the leftend of the duct` |31 arid `a"du'ct |33 which leads back to the sump 99jV There;- 40 fore while thevalve control memberis infeither of the forward or reverse positions fluidpressure in the motor M, Fig.` la, will collapse`causjing`re1ease ofthe brake B. f f 'f Referring to Fig. 5, the valve parts 'are shown in full lines in the forward position whereby "the oil flows from the chamber ||4'by way of passages IIT, II8 andA |20, through -cylindei` |22 to passage I3I' and thence to duct 92 (se'efFigs. 5, 8, 'and l.) andthe pistons `9|) .for"operating` 5o forward driving brake 80. Alsojthe 'oil`for reverse pistons 14-is draining by Way of-the pa'ssage 93 to passage |32- and through cylinder. |22 and thence through passage |33 to 'the fsum'p 99. Passage |33 is constructed-similarly to-:passage 5.-, |34A in Figs. 5 and 8. When thevalve'plungerfl23 is in the dot-dash line position showny in Fig. 5 the oil passes from chamberf||4 through passages |I1, IIB and |2| to cylinderw |22and thence to' passage |32 and to passage 93 leading to the pis. tons `14 to eiectthe reverse drive operationio'f the brake 62. At `the same time oil is drained' from cylinders 89 by way` of `the* passage `or duct 92 to passage |3I, cylinder |22; and drain. passages |34 and |35 which` are then intercommunicative through the valve cylinderl .122*

lead to the sump 99; see Fig. 8. i l

Oil deliveredinto the pressure regulating: chamber-normallyattains a pressure sucient t'o displace the piston ||5to the left about thezdistance shownin Fig. 45 while compressing'I the spring I I6. When reaching this position th'epis'- ton II5 uncovers an end of a duct |30 which has a lateral portion I30a, Figs.` 5, 6 and?, communicating with a vertical portion |30b in the front wall plate 4 of the casing through 'a threaded p0rtion |300. This duct |30 including the portions |30a, |30b, |3|Ic and other portions presently described is for feeding oil under pressure to certain bearings of the transmission gearing. Normally therel is sufficient volume conveyed away r/bythe duct |30 to accommodate the'capacity of the pump so that the piston ||5 compresses the spring ||6 only the amount shown in Fig. 5, but should this pressure lubrication system become clogged the piston-will move farther to the left, Fig. 5, to uncover a by-pass duct BPD which as clearly shown in Fig. `6, leads through the casing end wall 4 for discharge` into the oil sump 99. Any leakage past the piston I I5 can escape from the back end of .the chamber ||4 through a vertical passage k|36 into the valve sleeve |22 from which it' can drain through the drain passage -|33 tothe sump when the valve control member |23 isfnoved to the dot-dash lineposition of Fig. 5.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6, 1 and 4, the lubrication duct |30 `,will be seen to comprise, in addition to the aforesaid portions 30a, |30b, and |300, a portion |30d continuing from the portion |30c along the underside of the casing I to a duct portion |30e in the casing back end wall 1.4 In Figs. 1 and 3 the duct portion |30e is shown to communicate with a groove 43a in the bearing 43,- and from this groove the oil reaches a concentric groove 42a in the carrier hub 42. Part of the lubrication oil is forced inwardly from the I' groove 42a through a radial channel ||4a and into the threaded portion |30c, Fig. 6, and an oil cooler unit (not shown) will be placed in shunting relationiabout the passage portions |30a and |30b by connecting said unit between the openings shown closed by the plugs |39 and |39a, Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 9, the structure is generally the same with the same reference characters for the same parts as that shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, and diii'ers in the form of brake operating means, the brake Arings being of somewhat different size. The means for operating these brakes are in the form of annular pistons |45 and |46 movable in annular cylinders |41 and |46 respectively. The pistons have pressure plates or sliders |49 and |50 which compress the friction rings of the brakes. Opposite the pistons are annular oil chambersl |5| and |52 connected'to the pressure oil supply ducts as ducts 93 and 92 shown in the other figures of the drawings. Lubrication oil is supplied from the pressure regulating chamber ||4 through a conduit |303: in-

axially. of the drive shaft through a bore 48h, I

thence radially through passage portions 48e,

. 61a and 36h' to provide lubrication for the bearing of the shaft portion 48l in the sleeve shaft 51, lubrication for the sleeve shaft 51 in the carrier hub 36, and-lubrication for the carrier hub in the casing bearing 35. Another partof the lubrication oil is forced axially of the carrier hub through a channel 42h therein and-thence radially through a channel 4|b and a registering radial bore 44a in the non-rotatable cluster gear shaft 44 to an axial bore 44h in such shaft and Y thence out through a lateral bore 44c to lubricate roller bearings RB, Fig. 4, on which the associated planet gear cluster is j'ournalled.

Other sets of oil conducting ducts as that just described leading from the groove 42a also lead from said groove respectively to the other planet gear clusters.

' Detent'means for releasably holding the sliding valve member |23 in its diierentoperative positions arel shown in detail in Figs. 2, 5 and 7. The sliding valve'member has a series, such as three, detent recesses F, N and R, see Fig. 2, cooperative with a detent ball |40 pressed`by a spring |4| in a bore |42 closed by a plug' |43.

In the pump discharge passage ||3 there is located a ball type check valve |44 for preventing any drop in pressure when the pump is running fslowly, as when idling the motor and pump 91 A then 'closed clutch.

In certain installations it may be desirable to cool the oil circulated through the lubrication circuit. Under these circumstances the passage |30 will be closed by a plug (not shown) screwed stead of through the casing passages |30a, |30b, |30c and I30d of Figs. 6 and In the operation the device at the start is in neutral. The valve |23 is shown in neutral position in Fig. 2. Both brakes 62 and 00 at that time .are disengaged while the brake B is engaged.

Therefore the driven shaft I 4 and the gear 96 will beheld against rotation while the sun gear 63 rotating with the drive shaft causes the gear clusters to planetate idly about the gear 96 in the reverse direction (counter-clockwise as viewed from the vfront or left in Figs. 1 and 9). 'Ihe gear clusters will be rotating counter-clockwise about their own axes and because of the gears 45 of these'clusters having a greater diameter` than the gears 41 the sun gear 58 will be idly rotated clockwise. The brake B is applied because oil pumped into the chamber I |4 and passing downwardly through the valve member opening |28 into the channel |29 cannot escape through the relief channel |31 and the sump channel |33 since the enlargement |21 on the valve control member |23 blocks communication between the channels |31 and I 33. Conse- Vquently the oil is forced out of the channel |29 the center enlargement |25 on the valve control member prevents communication through the valve sleeve |22 between the ports |2| and |32, preventing the forcing of oil under pressure upwardly through the channel 93 leading to the brake cylinders (cylinders in the Fig. 9 embodiment). On the other hand the annular space between the control member enlargements |25 and |21 provides communication between the channel 93 and the sump channel |33, to permit drainage of the. brake cylinders and complete release of the brake.

Brake 80 is not engaged at this time because the center enlargement 25 on the valve control member prevents communication through'the valve sleeve 22 betweenthe ports |20 and |3Ia, preventing the forcing of oil from the pressure chamber I I4 outwardly through the channels |3| and 92 to the brake cylinders (cylinder in the Fig. 9 embodiment). Meanwhile oil is drained from these cylinders through the channels 92 and |3|, port |3|a, sleeve |22 and the drain-to-sump channels |34 and |35.

To establish forward drive the valve control member |24 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 to piace this member in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the detent recess F is in registry with the detent ball |40, Fig. '7. This movement Iof thevalve control member |24 will bridge the space between the drain port |33 and the port at the left end of the passage |31 so that the pressure in the brake cylinder M will be relieved through the conduit`|29a. Figs. 1 and 5, said channel |31 and the port |33 to the oil sump. Oil from the pressure chamber ||4 will flow downwardly through the channel ||1 into the compartment ||8 and thencethrough the port |20, channel |3| and channel 92, Figs. 5, 1 and 3, to the cylinders 89 for moving the pistons 90 and the brake actuating levers 83 associated therewith for closing the brake 80. With the brake 80 thus closed the planet gear carrier will be held against rotation so that the gear clusters thereon function similarly to countershafts whereon the gears 46 and 41 transmit forward drive from-the gear 53 to the gear 96 at a reduced speed ratio.

Reverse drive is obtained by shifting the valve control member |24 to its rig'htmost position l which is illustrated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 5. While in this position the detent recess R will be in registry with the detent ball |40. While the valve member is in this position the center enlargement |25 will continue to block off pressure `fluid from the neutral brake Bas explained above in connection with the forward driveconnection. This center section |25 will also have a portion in registry with the port |20 to block off oil from the pump to thepassage 92 and hence to the cylinders 89 of the forward brake 80. On the other hand that portion of the valve control member between the enlargements |25 and |26 will bridge the sleeve ports in communication with the channel |3| and the drain ports |34 and |35 s0 that the pressure in the forward brake cylinders 89 will be relieved through the channel 92, channel |3I and the ports |34 and |35, Figs. 5 and 8. That annular section of the valve control member between the enlargements |25 and |21 will be in communication between the ports |2| and |32 so that fluid under pressure is introduced into the channel 93 which leads to the cylinders 16for forcing the pistons 14 therein to the right aswill cause the driven sun gear 9S to rotate clockwise with respect to the carrier, but because of the difference in the diameters of the gears and 41 the carrier will be rotating counter-clockwise at a greater actual speed than the clockwise direction of the driven gear 96 relatively to the carrier wherefore the net or actual direction of rotation of the gear 96 will be counter-clockwise or reverse. The driven shaft |4 rotates in the reverse direction with the driven sun gear 96.

Fig. 10 shows a modified arrangement for the gearingemployable in the layouts of Fig. 1 or 9. In Fig. 10, to expedite the description. the parts correspOnding to those in Figs. 1 and 9 are designated by the same respective reference characters with the addition of aprime.

Fig. 10 illustrates an arrangement of gearing in whichthe sun gear 53' driven from the drive shaft 26' is suspended in a floating fashion. While the gear 53' is driven by the shaft25' it is splined thereto at 20| instead of being formed integrally with said shaft. A front hub` extension .202 of the gear 53' is journalled by means of a sleeve 203 in a back end portion of the sleeve on` hollow shaft 51', whereasv a back extension 204 of the `hub of gear 53 is journalled by means of a sleeve 205 within the cylindrical side wall of a` cavity 206 in the front end of the driven shaft I4'. Sun gear 53' meshes Ywith the planet gears 40 as before. Sun gears 58'` and 96 areformed separately from the sleeve shaft 51' andthe `driven shaft I4' and are' secured thereto by bolts201 and 208.

Sleeve shaft 51' is spaced radially 'both from the hub 209 of theplanet gear carrier, end plate 31' and from the reduced diameter portion 48" of the drive shaft 26 but is rotatively supported in the casingbarrel by a ball bearing unit 2H. A second ball bearing 'unit 2|2 rotatively vsupports the carrier end plate 31' in the casing whereas at the oppositeend of the carrier its end plate 4|' is supported in the ball bearing unit 54,' which vindirectly through the hub portion 2 I3 ofthe carrier end plate 4| lends stabilizing support `to, the driven shaft I4'.

By making the gears 58', 53 and 96' separate from the shafts with which their hubs are in drivingV relation, these gears can befmade lo fth'e preferred hardenable material which is most suitable for their gear teeth while the shafts 51", 26' and I4' drivingly associated with their hubs can be made of a different material which is better suited to resist deterioration when subjected to tortional stress and strain. Keying of the gear 53' to the back end of the drive shaft 28'vperrnits of slight lateral movement between a portion of the shaft to which said gear is keyed and the hub of said gear, widening the tolerances of permissible di mensions' in the parts. Supporting the "sun gear 53 upon its opposite and widely separated end portions 202 and 204 providessuitable stabilization for said gear and causes this gear to be truly axially aligned with the sun gears 58' and 96'. Because of the indirect association of the drive shaft 2li'y and the driven shaft I4 through the `splined connection 20| with the sun gear 53',

, greater tolerance is permissible in the degree of true alignment of vthe bearing supports for` said shafts 26 and |4. Likewise because of'the indirect association of the shaft |4' withthe hollow shaft 51 through the bearing `sleeves 203 and 205 and the hub of the gear 53', greater tolerance is permissible in the degree of axial alignment of the bearing unit 2|| for said` shaft 51' and the driven shaft I4.

Having herein describedand upon the draw- 11 ings shown a few illustrative embodiments of the invention the latter is not limited thereto but comprehends other constructions, arrangements of parts, details, features or the like not departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim: Y

1. In a power transmission-devicey for marine crafthavlng a driving and a driven shaft, and operatively associated transmission gears and brake means; a gear cluster comprising primary, secondary and tertiary planetary'gears rotatably mounted on a carrier which is rotatably carried by the transmission device to planetate relative to said-driving and driven shafts, and of which the primary and tertiary gears are respectively operatively connected tothe driving and driven shafts, and the secondary gear is operatively connected to a brake means, and said carrier also being operatively connected to a brake means, said brake means comprising mutually movable and engageable friction elements, hydraulic means for mutually moving said elements including a pump operatively connected to said driving shaft and having a uid connection to said brake means, and a 'valve in said connection, said hydraulic means also including an annular cylinder, and an .annular piston reciprocable in said cylinder and engageable with said elements to produce the mutual movement of said elements.

2. In a power transmission device for marine craft having a driving and a driven shaft, and

operatively associated transmission gears and brake means; a gear cluster comprising primary, secondary and tertiary planetary gears rotatably mounted on a' carrier which is rotatably carried by the transmission device to planetate relative to said driving and driven shafts, and

` of which the primary and tertiary gears are respectively operatively connected to the driving and driven shafts, and the secondary gear is operatively connected to a brake means, and said carrier also being operatively connected to a brake means, said brake means comprising hydraulically operable means for operating said brake means and which includes a hydraulic pump operatively connected to said driving shaft and having a manually operable valve movable for controlling the supply of pressure iiuid selectively to said brake means, said valve having medial and extreme ports and movable medial and extreme valve members for selectively controlling passage of iluid through said valve for neutral, forward and reverse drive operations of the device, said movable medial member of the valve having a transverse passage for passage of pressure fluid for neutral control of the trans mission device.

3. In a marine reversing gear; coaxial drive and driven shafts; va planetary gear unit including a planetary gear carrier journalled coaxially with said shafts and planetary gear clusters each having a, primary, a secondary and a tertiaryA gear,` a drive sun gear connecting the drive shaft with the primary cluster gears, a driven sun gear connecting the driven shaft with the secondary cluster gears, and a reversing sun gear meshed with the tertiary planet gears; hydraulically operated brakes each comprising a group of axially movable annular Adisks coaxial with and respectively rotatively flxedto the reversing sun gear and to the carrier and each brake also comprising a group of cooperating annular disks xed against rotation and respectively axially slidable into compressed braking relation with the first groups of disks; brake an 4oil pump driven from said drive shaft to pump oil from said sump; an Oil pressure regulating chamber incorporated into the structure of said casing communicatively with the pump and having a displaceable wall and a by-pass channel un'coverable by said wall when sufficiently displaced to allow escape of the oil underl pressure; and a control valve comprising a casing incorporated into said gear casing and connected between said pressure regulating chamber, brake motors and sump, and said valve including a, valve control member manipulative between a neutral and oppositely disposed positions to respectively connect both of the motors for drain into the sump and to selectively connect the motors with the pressure regulating chamber while connecting the other for drain into the sump.

4. In a power transmission device for marine craft having driving anddrivenshaft means,

and operatively associated tr-ansmission gears I and brake means; the shaft means comprising alined driving and driven shafts andv a bearing between them, and a coaxial secondary shaft,

primary, secondary and tertiary sun gears recontrolling the operation of said brakes, a thirdv brake 'operatively associated with said driven shaft and having a hydraulic connection with said valve for operation of said third brake when said valve is in neutral position.

5. In a'power transmission device for marine craft having driving and driven shaft means,

and operatively associated transmission gears and brake means; a housing barrel, end plates secured to the opposite ends of said barrel, said plates having hubs extending therefrom and having hub plates at the outer ends of the hubs, bearings in said hubs, the shaft means having alined driving and driven shafts with the outer end portions of said shafts rotatably mounted in said bearings, a central bearing at the inner ends of said shafts for rotatably mounting said inner ends of said shafts, a coaxial secondary shaft, primary, secondary and tertiary sun gears respectively on said driving, secondary andv driven shafts, a gear carrier rotatably mounted about the axis of said shafts, a planetary gear cluster rotatably carried by the carrier and comprising primary, secondary and tertiary planetary gears respectively operatively connected to said primary, secondary and tertiary sun gears, hydraulically operated brakes operatively associated with said secondary shaft and to said carrier, said brakes being mounted in said barrel,

l piston and cylinder means in said'hubs and having operative connection with said brakes, a pump having communicating connections with said piston and cylinder means, a control valve in said connections and having means for selectively alined driving'and driven shafts with the outer' end portions of said shafts rotatably mounted in said bearings, a central bearing at the inner ends of said shafts for rotatably mounting said inner ends of said shafts, a coaxial secondary shaft, primary, secondary and tertiary sun gears respectively on said driving, secondary and driven shafts, a gear carrier rotatably mounted about the axis of said shafts, a planetary gear cluster rotatably carried by the carrier and comprising primary, secondary and tertiary planetary gears respectively operatively connected to said primary, secondary and tertiary sun gears, hydraulically operated brakes operatively associated with said secondary shaft and to said carrier, said brakes being mounted in said barrel, piston and cylinder means in said hubs and having operative connection with said brakes, a pump having communicating connections with said piston and cylinder means, a control valve in said connections and having means for selectively controlling the operation of said piston and cylinder -means, a third brake operatively associated with said driven shaft and having a hydraulic connection with said valve for operation of said third brake when said valve is in neutral position.

7. Sn a reversing gear apparatus, a casing, coaxial drive and driven shafts journalled in said casing and having inner ends in opposed relation, a brakable reaction shaft spacedly about la said drive shaft and journalledqin said casing independently of the drive shaft, a planetary gear carrier journalled in the casing coaxially of said shafts, sets of planet gears journalled in said carrier, said sets of gears being spaced circumferentially of said carrier and each set including a center gear and end gears at opposite ends: of their respective center gear, a sun gear rotatively fixed to the driven shaft and mutually mashed with the planet gears at one end of 'the center planet gears, a second sun gear rotatively nxed to said brakable shaft and mutually mashed with the planet gears at the other end of the center planet gears, a third sun gear mutually meshed with the center gears of said gear sets and having end extensions journalled respectively in the other two sun` gears, said third sun gear having its hub upon said drive shaft, and quill mean's establishing a driving connection between said third gear hub and the drive shaft.

OSCAR H. BANKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ln the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name j Date 2,088,782 Ford Aug. 3, 1937 2,251,625 Hale Aug. 5, 1941 1,636,860 Blood ,----July 26, 1927 1,348,2 51 Tamura Aug. 3, 1920 2,005,726 Banker June 25, 1935 2,330,198 Banker Sept. 28, 1943 2,158,054 Bradbury May 16, 1939 1,217,427 Fast Feb. 27, 1917 2,020,404 Farkas Nov. 12, 1935 2,055,325 Woolson Sept. 22, 1936 2,098,125 Yoxall Nov. 2, 1937 

